Means for arranging cards in overlapping spaced relation



June 25, 1940. TOWNSEND 2,205,445

MEANS FOR ARRANGING CARDS IN OVERLAPPING SPACE!) RELATION Filed llay 25,1933 2 Sheets-Sheet i FIG. I

INVENTOR LEONARD G. TOWNSEND ATTORNEY June 25, 1940. 1.. e. TOWNSENDIIEANS ,FOR ARB AKGING CARDS IN OVERLAPPING SPA CED RELATION Filsdlay25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LEONARD G. TOWNSEND ATTORNEY PatentedJune 25, 1940 UNITED STATES MEANS FOR ARRANGING oAnns rN oven- LAPPINGsPAoEn RELATION Leonard G. Townsend, Washington, D. C.

Application May 25, 1938, Serial No. 211,281

9 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) This invention relates to spreading or spacing cards inoverlapping relation to leave an indicia bearing margin of each cardexposed. In compiling statistical data, for example, records may be madeby punching certain digits in selected columns on cards provided forthis purpose. After these cards have been punched and verified, it isadvantageous to arrange a suitable number of them in overlappingrelation so as to expose only the margin of each card along whichinformation to identify the card may appear. With the cards arranged inthis manner, a photostatic or similar record may be made of acomparatively large number of cards. It will be apparent that a numberof such photostatic or like records will provide a convenient index. Theuse of these cards in making these records is well adapted fordemonstrating the features and advantages of this invention, andtherefore this particular use has been selected for the purposes ofillustration herein.

The purposes of this invention are to provide for arranging cards inoverlapping relation with only an indicia bearing margin of each cardexposed.

The invention provides for progressing from one end of a stack of cardstoward the other, as from the bottom toward the top, and successivelyengaging the card edges on one side of the stack with differentobstructing edges which may be so arranged in series that each of theseobstructing edges engages the edge of only one card. The inventionprovides for relative movement between the stack of cards and theobstructing edges in a direction transversely of the latter, so thateach. card is first displaced from the stack a distance suflicient onlyto expose the indicia bearing margin of that card, and as succeedingcards are similarly displaced from the stack, the previously displacedcard or cards are also displaced in like increments so that therequisite number of cards move out of the stack and are deposited in thedesired overlapping relation. These cards may then be covered with aglass or other substantially transparent plate and recorded byphotostating or the like.

The features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bed having a series of obstructing edgesand ways for movably sup porting aholder for a stack of cards, thetransparent cover plate for the bed being thrown back and broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe device shown in Fig. 1, with the holderfor the stacked cards movably mounted on the ways;

Fig.4 is a frontelevation of the holder, showing a stack of cardsdisposed therein;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the holder with thecards removed and parts broken awayto show the rear side wall, thedischarge opening therein and a yieldable card engaging member; and

Fig. 6 is section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, illustrating to an enlargedscale the arrangement of' the obstructing edges at progressivelyincreasing heights.

The illustrated device comprises a bed I, 15 which may be made of metalor otherv suitable material, and-a magazine or holder 25 for a stack ofcards. Extending longitudinally of the bed are raised rails 3, l1, I8,24 and 20. This is a duplex type of bed and therefore rail l8 whichextends'along the center line is merely a sepa- 20 rating rail. Alongeach side of rails 20 and 24, the bed is cut away in the form of grooves'l9, 2! and 22 and 23 which constitute ways for movably supporting theholder. Similarly, grooves l5 and I5 disposed along the sides of rail l1and grooves 2 and 4 which extend along the sides of rail 3, alsoconstitute ways for movably supporting the holder on this side of themachine. Obstructing edges 5 extend preferably across the bed from andbetween grooves 2| and 23 on one side of the device and similarobstructing edges 5 also extend preferably from and between grooves 4and IE on the other side of the device. These two groups of obstructingedges 5 and 5' are identical in construction and arrangement and,therefore, only the edges 5 will, be described further in detail and itwill be understood that the same description also applies to obstructingedges 5. A substantially transparent plate l, preferably of glass, ismounted in a frame 6 (Figs. 1 and 3), which has a hinge connection withthe bed at one end thereof. This connection comprises a hinge pin 9extending through lugs Ill, H, l2, l3 and M of the frame and alsothrough lugs l0, l2 and I3 of the bed. It will be understood that thishinge pin may be rotatably mounted in the frame lugs and fixed in lugsl0, l2 and I3 of the bed, or it may be rotatable in the latter lugs andfixed in the frame lugs, or the pin may be rotatablev in both sets oflugs. This glass plate is adapted to be swung in a clockwise directionas viewed in Fig. 3, to a position beyond that illustrated in thisfigure so that the frame 34 may rest on any convenient support. Thisframe is also adapted to swing in a '55 counter clockwise direction to aposition where it rests on the obstructing edges 5 and 5.

The holder 25 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) comprises a rear side wall 41, endwalls 48 and 49, and front side walls 5i and 52 which are arrangedadjacent the end walls to leave a central opening preferablysubstantially corresponding in width to the length of the obstructingedges. A base block 43 is disposed across the bottom of the holder atone end thereof and a similar base block 44 is arranged across the otherend of the holder. The base block 43 has a slot 33 adapted to fitslidably over any one of rails 3 and 24 of the bed and the lugs 32 and34 adjacent this slot are adapted to ride freely in groves 2, 4, and 22and 23 of the bed. Likewise the other base block 44 has a slot 30adapted to fit freely over rails H and 2D, and the lugs 29 and 3| ofthis base block are adapted to ride freely in grooves l5, l6 and l 9 and2! of the bed. The upper surfaces of these base blocks constitute thebottom 36 of the holder upon which a stack of cards 26 may be supported.A lateral discharge opening 54 (Fig. 5) is formed in the rear side wall41 of the holder adjacent the upper surfaces of the base blocks. Aflexible, elastic rubber strip 35 (Fig. 5) is secured to rear side wall41, as by means of attaching elements 31, 38, and depends across thelateral discharge opening to constitute a yieldable means for preventingcards from emerging from this opening prematurely. A weighted coverplate 28 may also be placed on top of the stack of cards in the holder.This plate is provided with a hand grip 21. It will be evident from theforegoing that the holder for stacked cards is adapted to be mounted onthe rails 20 and 24 or .3 and H to travel along the ways with a stack ofcards disposed above the obstructing edges.

From Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that at the end of the deviceadjacent the hinge connection, the portions59 and BI of the bed betweenthe ways are flat and free from obstructing edges for a distancerepresenting at least the width of the cards to be used. From this pointon toward the opposite end of the bed, the obstructing edges are spacedat distances substantially corresponding to the widths of the indiciabearing margins to be exposed. Preferably these obstructing edges aresubstantially equally spaced along the bed, although of course thespacing may be variable if this is desired. The

obstructing edges 5 constitute a series beginning at space 6!. Theseobstructing edges are arranged from this space toward the opposite endof the bed (shown only in Fig. 6) at elevations or heights increasingprogressively in increments so determined as to cause the firstobstructing edge to engage the edge of only the bottom card in theholder and the following edges to engage individually the edges of thesuperposed cards in succession. In this way each obstructing edgeengages only one card.

The holder with a stack of cards therein, may be mounted on rails 26 and24 with the bottom card directly over space 6!, for example. As theholder is advanced toward the opposite end of the bed, the leading edgeof the bottom card is engaged through the opening between front walls 5|and 52 (Fig. 4) by the first obstructing edge of this series. Thisengagement effectively arrests the progress of this bottom card so that.it never passes beyond the space 6! provided therefor. It will also beevident from Fig. 6 that as the following obstructing edges of thisseries engage the leading edges of the superposed cards, each card onbeing so engaged is displaced from the stack a distance corresponding tothe space between adjacent obstructing edges before the card next aboveit is similarly displaced. As the obstructing edges are spaced along thebed substantially to correspond with the widths of the indicia bearingmargins of the cards, it will be seen that the initial displacement ofeach card produced by engagement of its leading edge with an obstructingedge, serves to expose the indicia bearing margin of that card and thatremaining displacements thereof serve to discharge the card from thestack and deposit it upon the table in the desired overlapping relationwith respect to other cards. During these operations the rubber strip 35depending across the discharge opening 54 serves to retain the cards inthe stack until each card engages one of the obstructing edges,whereupon this strip 35 yields or flexes to permit the card so engagedto elmerge and pass out through this discharge opening. Preferably thecards are spread or spaced in this manner by advancing the holderover-the obstructing edges with a single substantially continuousmovement.

After the holder has beeen advanced along the ways until the lastobstructing edge 5 of this series has engaged and completely displaced acard from the stack, the holder may be transferred to rails 3 and I iabove the space 59 and the procedure just described may be repeated.This will leave a row of cards above each series of obstructing edgesand the cards in each row will be arranged in overlapping relation withonly the indicia bearing margin of each card exposed. The holder 25 isthen removed from the bed, and frame 5 may be swung around to bringglass plate 1 against the cards to hold them in place while theirindicia bearing margins are photostated or similarly recorded.

While the preferred form of the invention, and the principle thereof andthe best known mode of applying that principle have been illustrated anddescribed herein, various modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art when informed by this specification, but it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited except as indicated by the appendedclaims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured andused by or for the Government for governmental purposes without thepayment to me of any royalty thereon.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a seriesof obstructing edges spaced in a substantially fixed relation to eachother substantially corresponding to the widths of the indicia bearingmargins to be exposed, a holder for a stack of cards, and means forsupporting said holder and said obstructing edges for relative movementtransversely of the latter to bring successively a different obstructingedge into individual engagement with the edge of only one card in theholder, said holder having an opening through which an edge of each cardtherein may be engaged by an obstructing edge, said holder also havingan opening through which cards engaged by said obstructing edges maypass from said holder.

2. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a seriesof obstructing edges spaced in a substantially fixed relation to eachother substantially corresponding to the widths of the indicia bear-.

ing margins to be exposed, a holder for a stack of cards, and means forsupporting said holder and said obstructing edges for relative movementtransversely of the latter to bring successively a different obstructingedge into individual engagement with the edge of only one card in theholder, said holder having an opening through which an edge of each cardtherein may be engaged by an obstructing edge, said holder also havingan opening through which cards engaged by said obstructing edges maypass from said holder, and yieldable means disposed across the latteropening and tending to retain cards in said holder.

3. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a seriesof obstructing edges spaced in a substantially fixed relation to eachother substantially corresponding to the widths of the indicia bearingmargins to be exposed, a holder for a stack of cards, and means forsupporting said holder and said obstructing edges for relative movementtransversely of the latter, said obstructing edges also being disposedat elevations increasing progressively in increments to cause successiveengagement of the card edges individually by different obstructing edgesof said series, said holder having an opening through which an edge ofeach card therein may be engaged by an obstructing edge, said holderalso having an opening through which cards engaged by said obstructingedges may pass from said holder.

4. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a seriesof obstructing edges spaced in a substantially fixed relation to eachother substantially corresponding to the widths of the indicia bearingmargins to be exposed, a holder for a stack of cards, and means forsupporting said holder and said obstructing edges for relative movementtransversely of the latter, said obstructing edges also being disposedat elevations increasing progressively in increments to cause successiveengagement of the card edges individually by different obstructing edgesof said series, said holder having an opening through which an edge ofeach card therein may be engaged by an obstructing edge, said holderalso having an opening through which cards engaged by said obstructingedges may pass from saidholder and flexible means associated withthelatter opening for tending to retain cards in said holder.

5. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination a series ofobstructing edges spaced in a substantially fixed relation to each othersubstantially corresponding to the widths of the indicia bearing marginsto be exposed, a holder for a stack of cards, and means for Supportingsaid holder and said obstructing edges for relative movementtransversely of the latter, said holder having an opening on one sidethereof through which an edge of each card may be engaged individuallyby a different obstructing edge of said series of obstructing edges,said holder also having an opening on the other side thereof throughwhich cards engaged by Said obstructing edges may pass from said holder.

6. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a seriesof obstructing edges spaced in a substantially fixed relation to eachother substantially corresponding to the widths of the indicia bearingmargins to be exposed, a holder for a stack of cards, and means forsuccessively effecting individual engagement between a different0bstructing edge and only one card in the holder for displacing saidcard from the stack to expose the indicia bearing margin of said card.

7. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a seriesof obstructing edges spaced in a substantially fixed relation to eachother substantially corresponding to the widths of the indicia bearingmargins to be exposed, a holder for a stack transversely of the latter,and means cooperating with said obstructing edges and with said holderand operative during said relative movement for successively effectingindividual engagement between a different obstructing edge and only onecard in the holder fordisplacing said card from the stack to expose theindicia bearing margin of the latter card, whereby a number of cards maybe successively displaced from the stack and deposited in the desiredoverlapping relation with their indicia bearing margins exposed.

8. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a bed, aseries of obstructing edges formed on the bed and spacedsubstantiallycorresponding to the Widths of the indicia bearing marginsto be exposed, a holder for a stack of cards, means for supporting saidholder and said bed for relative movement transversely of saidobstructing edges, and means cooperating with said holder and with saidbed and operative during said relative move ment for successivelyeffecting individual engagement between a diiferent obstructing edge andonly one card in the holder for displacing said card from the stack toexpose the" indicia bearing margin of the latter card, whereby a numberof cards may be successively displaced from the stack in such incrementsand deposited on the bed in the desired overlapping relation with theirindicia bearing margins exposed.

9. In a device for spreading cards in overlapping relation. to leave anindicia bearing margin of each card exposed, the combination of a bed, aseries of obstructing edges on the bed and spaced substantiallycorresponding to the widths of the indicia bearing margins to beexposed, ways extending along the bed transversely of said obstructingedges, a holder for a stack of cards, said holder being adapted totravel along said ways, said obstructing edges being disposed atelevations increasing progressively along said ways so as to beeffective during travel of said holder for individually engaging theedges of the cards in succession and thereby displacing each card fromthe stack to expose the indicia bearing margin thereof, whereby a numberof cards may be successively displaced from the stack in such incrementsand deposited on the bed in the desired overlapping relation with theirindicia bearing margins exposed.

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